Gladiators Academy

The facility is pretty big and well-equipped. There's a ring and an octagon, as well as mats and plenty of bags.

The teachers are really knowledgeable and personable. We have a BJJ black belt, as well as some accomplished non-black belts who teach classes. All of the teachers are very experienced in their art. The Russian Sambo instructor is a national champion in his weight class. They Muay Thai instructor has been teaching for (I think) over two decades.

Overall, it's a really fun place to train. There's always something going on every night of the week, and even if the class you want isn't in session on a given night, there are people who just show up looking to spar or hit mitts with you.

No bullshido here--just solid mixed martial arts, with an emphasis on combat sports more so than self-defense, but without ignoring self-defense, either.

Update: the Sambo coach, Doug Fournet, just won the national Sambo championship...again. He is now the 5-time national champ. He also gives privates for about $40/hour, which is pretty awesome considering he is also a judo black belt and BJJ purple belt. Most world-class grapplers want hundreds of dollars per hour.

Doug is an awsome guy! He has fought in our (ASA) nationals, the Battle of Brooklyn, the USAW nationals, and just about every other sambo event he can. He has competed in more countries than most people can name - just count the flags on his leg! The man is the real deal. Say hi to Doug for me. Let's see if he can take our nationals again in October :)